Scottish Executive

Adoption

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3939 by Mr Jack McConnell on 25 October 2001, whether the adoption policy review will make recommendations to Her Majesty’s Government on new parental leave rights for new adoptive parents.

Nicol Stephen: I expect the report of Adoption Policy Review Group to address issues relating to post-adoption services. However, changes to the existing regulations that govern parental leave, including those for adoptive parents, is a reserved employment matter being taken forward by the UK Government. I would therefore not expect the review group to make recommendations on this.

Cancer

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) observed and (b) expected cases of breast cancer there have been in the postcode areas G31, G32, G33 and G34 of Glasgow in each year since 1987 to date.

Malcolm Chisholm: The table shows the observed and expected number of female breast cancer registrations in postcode areas G31, G32, G33 and G34 for the years 1987 to 1998, based on   age-specific rates for Scotland, all ages: 1987-98.

  


Year 
  

G31 
  

G32 
  

G33 
  

G34 
  



Observed 
  

Expected 
  

Observed 
  

Expected 
  

Observed 
  

Expected 
  

Observed 
  

Expected 
  



1987 
  

16 
  

14.7 
  

20 
  

23.2 
  

17 
  

21.8 
  

4 
  

5.0 
  



1988 
  

17 
  

14.9 
  

23 
  

23.5 
  

18 
  

22.1 
  

5 
  

5.1 
  



1989 
  

15 
  

15.3 
  

33 
  

24.2 
  

27 
  

22.7 
  

6 
  

5.3 
  



1990 
  

8 
  

16.3 
  

20 
  

25.9 
  

25 
  

24.3 
  

5 
  

5.6 
  



1991 
  

13 
  

17.4 
  

25 
  

27.7 
  

22 
  

25.9 
  

3 
  

6.2 
  



1992 
  

26 
  

17.9 
  

25 
  

28.3 
  

31 
  

26.6 
  

5 
  

6.3 
  



1993 
  

11 
  

17.1 
  

29 
  

27.1 
  

21 
  

25.5 
  

9 
  

5.9 
  



1994 
  

14 
  

17.0 
  

27 
  

26.9 
  

30 
  

25.2 
  

4 
  

5.9 
  



1995 
  

13 
  

17.8 
  

18 
  

28.2 
  

24 
  

26.4 
  

5 
  

6.1 
  



1996 
  

15 
  

17.5 
  

34 
  

27.8 
  

31 
  

26.1 
  

3 
  

6.1 
  



1997 
  

22 
  

18.0 
  

40 
  

28.6 
  

18 
  

27.0 
  

4 
  

6.3 
  



1998 
  

15 
  

18.6 
  

32 
  

29.7 
  

28 
  

27.9 
  

3 
  

6.5 
  



  Source: SOCRATES (Scottish cancer registration database).

  Note: Population data supplied to ISD Scotland by GRO(S).

Children in Care

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for improving the educational attainment of children in care.

Nicol Stephen: Our social justice milestone is that all young people leaving local authority care should achieve at least English and Maths standard grades.

Community Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why there has been a reduction of 9,065 people receiving home care over the two-year period from 1998 to 2000, as detailed on page two of the Scottish Community Care Statistics 2000 .

Malcolm Chisholm: There has been a move to providing more intensive home care over the two-year period from 1998-2000. Whilst there has been a reduction in the number of people receiving home care, the number of hours received by each client has increased from 5.1 hours per week in 1998 to 5.6 hours per week in 2000. Over the same time period the number of older people receiving intensive home care (more than 10 hours per week) has increased from 9.6 clients per 1,000 population in 1998 to 11.4 in 2000.

Community Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why the number of people receiving home care as detailed in table 5.1, page 65 of Scottish Community Care Statistics 2000  fell by 11,068 between the years 1998 and 2000.

Malcolm Chisholm: As noted in Scottish Community Care Statistics 2000 , this reduction is likely to be due to re-classification of clients into other more appropriate client groups rather than a change in the way the service is provided.

Debt

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities on the funding of agencies that provide non-housing debt advice.

Iain Gray: Working with COSLA, advice agencies and other partners, including the financial sector, the Executive is supporting a pilot project which will ensure that people get free, high quality telephone debt advice. No specific guidance has been issued to local authorities on the funding of local debt advice agencies, which is a matter for each authority.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities regarding educating children who have been permanently excluded from state schools.

Nicol Stephen: Circular 2/98 Guidance on Issues Concerning Exclusion from School , provides comprehensive guidance on the issues surrounding exclusions from school, including the continuing obligation on local authorities in respect of excluded children, and the need to arrange alternative education provision.

  We are currently updating the guidance contained in Circular 2/98 in the light of recent legislation and the recommendations of the Discipline Task Group.

European Union

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive at which meetings of the EU Council of Ministers it has (a) been present and (b) spoken during formal sessions since May 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information is given in the table.

  Scottish ministers attend council meetings as members of the United Kingdom delegation and speak when appropriate.

  Scottish Minister’s Attendance at Council

  1 July 1999 – November 2001

  


Year 
  

Date 
  

Council 
  

Minister 
  



1999 
  

24-25 Sep 
  

Informal meeting of Ministers of Education (Finland) 
  

Sam Galbraith 
  


 

26 Oct 
  

Fisheries Council (Luxembourg) 
  

John Home Robertson 
  


 

22 Nov 
  

Fisheries Council (Brussels) 
  

John Home Robertson 
  


 

13 Dec 
  

Environment Council (Brussels) 
  

Sarah Boyack 
  


 

14 Dec 
  

Agriculture Council (Brussels) 
  

Ross Finnie 
  


 

16 Dec 
  

Fisheries Council (Brussels) 
  

John Home Robertson 
  



2000 
  

17-18 Mar 
  

Informal Council for Ministers of Lifelong Learning (Portugal) 
  

Nicol Stephen 
  


 

20 Mar 
  

Agriculture Council (Brussels) 
  

Ross Finnie 
  


 

08 Jun 
  

Education Council (Luxembourg) 
  

Nicol Stephen 
  


 

16 Jun 
  

Fisheries Council (Luxembourg) 
  

John Home Robertson 
  


 

22 Jun 
  

Environment Council (Brussels) 
  

Sarah Boyack 
  


 

17 Nov 
  

Fisheries Council (Brussels) 
  

Rhona Brankin 
  


 

20 Nov 
  

Agriculture Council (Brussels) 
  

Ross Finnie 
  


 

30 Nov 
  

Justice and Home Affairs Council (Brussels) 
  

Jim Wallace 
  


 

14-15 Dec 
  

Fisheries Council (Brussels) 
  

Rhona Brankin 
  



2001 
  

12 Feb 
  

Education and Youth Council (Brussels) 
  

Nicol Stephen 
  


 

26 Feb 
  

Agriculture Council (Brussels) 
  

Ross Finnie 
  


 

08 Mar 
  

Environment Council (Brussels) 
  

Sam Galbraith 
  


 

24 Apr 
  

Agriculture Council (Luxembourg) 
  

Ross Finnie 
  


 

25 Apr 
  

Fisheries Council (Luxembourg) 
  

Rhona Brankin 
  


 

04 Jun 
  

Health Council (Luxembourg) 
  

Susan Deacon 
  


 

18 Jun 
  

Fisheries Council (Luxembourg) 
  

Rhona Brankin 
  


 

28 Jun 
  

Transport Council (Luxembourg) 
  

Sarah Boyack 
  


 

13 Jul 
  

Informal Council on Regional Policy (Namur) 
  

Angus MacKay 
  


 

16 Nov 
  

Justice and Home Affairs Council (Brussels) 
  

Jim Wallace 
  


 

20 Nov 
  

Agriculture Council (Brussels) 
  

Ross Finnie

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for a further random selection of farms in order to carry out blood sampling of sheep this winter to confirm the elimination of foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: No. The Scottish Executive has already carried out an extensive and comprehensive programme of serological testing of sheep in Scotland which established that the national flock is foot-and-mouth disease free.

Freedom of Information

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the United Nations Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters and whether it has been in communication with Her Majesty’s Government over the United Kingdom’s ratification of the convention, including the timing of ratification.

Ross Finnie: The Executive fully supports the United Nations Aarhus Convention, and it is in close contact with Her Majesty’s Government over the UK’s ratification of the Convention, including the timing of ratification.

Freedom of Information

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill will facilitate implementation of the United Nations Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters and, if so, how any such implementation will be achieved.

Ross Finnie: The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill will, if enacted, facilitate implementation of the United Nations Aarhus Convention. This will be achieved through the power in the bill to introduce regulations compliant with the convention.

Freedom of Information

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill will enable implementation of Article 5 of the United Nations Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters relating to the collection and dissemination of environmental information.

Ross Finnie: Implementation of Article 5 of the United Nations Aarhus Convention is already being delivered through existing administrative and legislative means. The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill is therefore not needed to enable implementation of Article 5.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18370 by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 October 2001, when the Healthy Respect National Health Demonstration project will produce an evaluation report and whether this evaluation will form the basis for extending the project throughout the rest of Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Healthy Respect National Health Demonstration project is being independently evaluated by the University of Aberdeen and it will report its findings by early 2004.

  The independent evaluation programme will identify implications for policy and practice and inform discussions about the best course of action to improve Scotland’s health. A Scotland-Wide Learning Network is being established to help draw together and share lessons learned during the course of the Healthy Respect, Starting Well and Have a Heart Paisley national health demonstration projects.

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18206 by Susan Deacon on 26 October 2001, how clinical drug trial activity is reported to the NHS.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is the responsibility of each NHS organisation to be aware of all research, including clinical drug trials, being conducted within their organisation. This responsibility is clearly stated in the Research Governance Framework Document recently published by the Chief Scientist Office.

  At UK level, details of non-commercial drug trials, along with details of all other non-commercial research activity, are recorded on the National Research Register, a copy of which is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18206 by Susan Deacon on 26 October 2001, whether it plans to publish a report on the activities, findings and recommendations of the Pharmaceutical Liaison Group.

Malcolm Chisholm: The group is an informal forum designed to allow unfettered discussion of matters of shared interest to the Health Department, NHSScotland and pharmaceutical interests. It has not been established with any formal remit that would lead the Executive to publish the Pharmaceutical Liaison Group’s discussions, its findings or recommendations. Additionally, it is anticipated that matters of commercial sensitivity will be discussed, making publication inappropriate.

Higher Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a financial contribution to Humboldt University in Germany on a similar basis to contributions recently made by the Irish and Manx Governments in order to allow the continuation of Celtic Studies courses there.

Dr Elaine Murray: We have no plans to do so.

Judicial Appointments

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19203 by Ian Gray on 16 November 2001, what discussions it has held with women members of the Scottish Bar and other members of the Faculty of Advocates on encouraging applications for appointments to the senior judiciary from advocates from non-traditional backgrounds since 12 October 2001.

Mr Jim Wallace: There have been no meetings. The Judicial Appointments Board to be established in the New Year will be asked to examine ways of attracting candidates for judicial posts from a wider background.

Judicial Appointments

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19204 by Iain Gray on 16 November 2001, (a) how many more appointments to the senior judiciary have been made since October 2001; (b) how many of those appointed were male; (c) how many of those appointed attended public schools; (d) how many of those appointed hold degrees from the Universities of Cambridge or Oxford, and (e) how many of those appointed had a father or grandfather who held a legal qualification.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is as follows:

  (a) 3

  (b) 2

  (c) 3

  (d) none

  (e) this information is not requested from candidates for appointment.

  I am aware that the father of the current Lord President was a sheriff but no other information is available.

Judicial Appointments

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19205 by Iain Gray on 16 November 2001, how many interviews or meetings have been held with candidates for appointment to the senior judiciary since March 2001.

Mr Jim Wallace: The only interviews or meetings with candidates for the office of Senator of the College of Justice have been those referred to in the reply to question S1W-19205 on 16 November 2001.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs will reply to my letter of 17 October 2001 regarding my constituent Mrs M Buchan of Peterhead.

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs will reply to my letter of 17 October 2001 regarding my constituent Ms S MacDonald of Mintlaw.

Nicol Stephen: A response was sent to the member on 27 November 2001.

Motor Vehicles

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to tackle the issue of abandoned motor vehicles following the joint announcement by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs on 31 October 2001 of measures to address the issue.

Ross Finnie: The Executive is aware that abandoning valueless vehicles in the street and other places is a growing problem. We aim to make it easier for local authorities to react by reducing the notice periods which they are required to give before removing a vehicle, as follows:

  for vehicles of no apparent value, from seven days to 24 hours

  for vehicles of some apparent value, from 21 days to between seven and 14 days

  We intend that the shorter notice periods should apply irrespective of whether the vehicle has been abandoned on the highway or on private land.

  The judgement in many cases as to whether an apparently abandoned vehicle is valueless or not will, of course, be a subjective one. Nevertheless, allowing local authorities to react more quickly than they currently can will reduce the potential for vandals, and those attempting to salvage usable parts to render a nuisance into a potential hazard. The Executive is writing to local and police authorities and other interested parties seeking their views.

  The announcement referred to contains other measures to address the problem. These relate to vehicle licensing and registration, a reserved matter, and will apply to Great Britain.

NHS Waiting Times

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time for an appointment with an audiologist has been in (a) 1999-2000 (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 to date, broken down by health board.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available centrally.

NHS Waiting Times

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17248 by Susan Deacon on 21 August 2001, what the average out-patient waiting times were to see a dermatologist in each health board area for the years ending (a) 30 June 1999 and (b) 30 June 2000.

Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in dermatology, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner, in the years ended 30 June 1999 and 30 June 2000, by NHS Board of residence, are provided in the table.

  NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times For A First Out-patient Appointment With A Consultant In Dermatology, Following Referral By A General Medical Practitioner, By NHS Board Of Residence: Years Ending 30 June 1999 and 30 June 2000.

  


NHS Board 
  

30 June 1999
Median Wait (Days) 
  

30 June 2000
Median Wait (Days) 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

67 
  

56 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

43 
  

62 
  



Borders 
  

61 
  

55 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

39 
  

21 
  



Fife 
  

63 
  

64 
  



Forth Valley 
  

102 
  

102 
  



Grampian 
  

95 
  

106 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

51 
  

61 
  



Highland 
  

60 
  

64 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

41 
  

53 
  



Lothian 
  

52 
  

66 
  



Orkney 
  

37 
  

54 
  



Shetland 
  

43 
  

57 
  



Tayside 
  

82 
  

37 
  



Western Isles 
  

110 
  

83 
  



Scotland 
  

54 
  

61 
  



  Source: ISD, Scotland.

Public Appointments

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what public bodies Esther Roberton has been appointed to since May 1997 and what the remuneration is for each position.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: The following table details the requested information.

  


Name of NDPB 
  

Position 
  

Period 
  

Remuneration (£) 
  



Scottish Further Education Funding Council 
  

Member 
  

March 1999 – October 2001 
  

4,746, increased to 4,884 from 04/01 
  



Scottish Further Education Funding Council 
  

Chair 
  

November 2001 – October 2005 
  

31,464 
  



Fife NHS Board (formerly Fife Health Board) 
  

Chair 
  

April 2000 – April 2004 
  

15,000 increased to 26,000 from 1/10

Public Sector

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the utilisation by public bodies of vehicles capable of running on liquefied petroleum gas.

Ross Finnie: No such monitoring is done by the Scottish Executive; this is a matter for the public bodies concerned.

Renewable Energy

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15542 by Rhona Brankin on 16 May 2001, what progress has been made in assessing the capacity of the national grid in northern Scotland in order to ensure that Scotland can benefit fully from its renewable energy resources.

Ross Finnie: The study commissioned to assess the capacity of the Scottish electricity network to connect increasing amounts of renewable generation has now been completed. The results of the study will be published shortly, along with a report into Scotland’s renewable resource.

School Trips

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18284 by Allan Wilson on 15 October 2001, what statistics it has on accidents involving children attending state or independent schools while undertaking adventure activities during school trips.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not collect such statistics.

School Trips

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18281 by Allan Wilson on 15 October 2001, whether any changes have been made to advice and guidance issued by it or on its behalf to state or independent schools in respect of adventure activities undertaken during school trips since the establishment of the Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has issued no such guidance, but advice is available from the Health and Safety Executive.

Schools

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools currently have broadband internet access.

Nicol Stephen: This information is not currently available. However, results of the latest School Survey of Information and Communication Technology, carried out in October 2000, were published in a Scottish Executive Statistical News Release on Wednesday 28 November 2001. This is a sample survey, the results of which will show the percentage of schools that have access to the internet and/or internet email via a broadband connection.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a scheme equivalent to the Small School Support Fund operated by the Department for Education and Skills.

Nicol Stephen: There are significant differences in school management arrangements north and south of the Border, and the Scottish Executive does not mirror the detailed school funding arrangements which apply in England.

  There are currently no proposals to extend the scope of the Excellence Fund to provide for a Small Schools Fund. Authorities in Scotland have considerable flexibility in their use of resources, and are free to make their own arrangements for the support of small schools according to particular local circumstances.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools were closed in each of the past five years, broken down by school name and location.

Nicol Stephen: The number of schools closed in each of the past five calendar years is shown in Table 1, and the school details are listed in Table 2. The tables cover both local authority and independent schools, and include schools that have merged to form new schools and also in a small number of cases where a separate educational unit (such as a Gaelic unit) has been integrated into a school. Where a school had both a primary department and a secondary department, it has been included in both categories. The information is derived from the annual Scottish Executive Education Department school opening and closing exercise.

  Table 1

  


Year 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001
(to June) 
  



Primary 
  

35 
  

14 
  

14 
  

13 
  

23 
  

7 
  



Secondary 
  

6 
  

4 
  

11 
  

3 
  

4 
  

3 
  



Special 
  

3 
  

3 
  

8 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  



Total 
  

44 
  

21 
  

33 
  

20 
  

31 
  

14 
  



  Table 2

  


Education Authority 
  

School Name 
  

Sector 
  

Type 
  



Year Closed 2001 
  



Angus 
  

St Vigean's Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

Fidigary Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Fife 
  

Kingdom Christian School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Fife 
  

Kingdom Christian School 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Laurel Park School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Laurel Park School 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



Highland 
  

Craighill Gaelic Medium Unit 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Ullapool Primary School Gaelic Unit 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Newtonmore Primary Gaelic Unit 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Raddery School 
  

Special 
  

Independent 
  



Midlothian 
  

Lugton School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Midlothian 
  

Westfield School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Year Closed 2000 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

Ashgrove Nursery/Infant School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

Maryculter East School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

Ramsay School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Angus 
  

Craigo Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Angus 
  

Hillside Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

Auldgirth School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

The Galloway Small School 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

Westerkirk School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

Atholl Preparatory School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

Manish Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Falkirk 
  

Woodlands High School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Fife 
  

Linnwood Hall School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Loch Choire Primary 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Contin Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Fodderty Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Moray 
  

Boharm School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Moray 
  

Edinvillie School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Moray 
  

Glenrinnes School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

Langlands Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

Melrose Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

Sacred Heart Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

St Joseph's Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

Deanbank School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

Glenhead Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

Croftinloan School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

Croftinloan School 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

Traquair Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

Middlemuir School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

Keil School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

Keil School 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

Keil Junior School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Year Closed 1999 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

Pitfodels School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

Kingswood Nursery/Infant School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

Glen Morven School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

Crossroads School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Angus 
  

The Sidlaw School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

Portnahaven Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

Park Lodge School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

Gask House School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



East Lothian 
  

Haddington Infant Specialist SEN Unit 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

Craigmillar Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Torass Emess Jewish Day School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Sir John Maxwell Gaelic Unit 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Crookston Castle Secondary School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Woodside Secondary School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Moray 
  

Cranloch St Andrew's SEN Education Centre 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Moray 
  

Ogilvie School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

Benhar Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

Harthill Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

Edradour School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

Edradour School 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



Year Closed 1998 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

Walker Dam Nursery/Infant School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

The Hillocks School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

Cloverfield School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

Deeview Nursery/Infant School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

Greeness School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

Corgarff School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

Rashfield Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

St John's Episcopal Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

St Joseph's Academy- Kilmarnock Campus 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

St Joseph's Academy- Cumnock Campus 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

West Park School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

St Denis and Cranley School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

St Denis and Cranley School 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

St Margaret's School for Girls, Edinburgh 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

St Margaret's School for Girls, Edinburgh 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



Fife 
  

Ovenstone School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Fife 
  

Melville House School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

John Street Secondary School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Victoria Drive Secondary School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Garthamlock Secondary School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

North Kelvinside Secondary School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

St Augustine's Secondary School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

St Leonard's Secondary School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Glasgow School for the Deaf 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Parkhouse School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

St Gerard's Secondary School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Kensaleyre Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Midlothian 
  

St Joseph's School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

Amulree Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

Lendrick Muir School 
  

Special 
  

Independent 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

Monksford School 
  

Special 
  

Independent 
  



Stirling 
  

Kinlochard Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Stirling 
  

Kinbuck Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Year Closed 1997 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

Ardentinny Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

Dalavich Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

Kilquhanity House School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

Kilquhanity House School 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



Dundee City 
  

Gillburn Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dundee City 
  

West March Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dundee City 
  

Kirkton High School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dundee City 
  

Rockwell High School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Levern Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Queenslie Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

St Bonaventure's Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

John Bosco Secondary School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Lieurary Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Scotsburn Primary 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Moray 
  

Abbeylands School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

Foulden Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

Haroldswick Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

Auchentoshan School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

Mount Blow School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

Elmwood School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



West Lothian 
  

Almondbank Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Year Closed 1996 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

Sunnybank Partially Hearing Unit 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

Esslemont School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Angus 
  

Clova Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Angus 
  

Padanaram Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

Hawkhill Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dundee City 
  

Greenfield Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dundee City 
  

Kellyfield Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dundee City 
  

Rockwell Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dundee City 
  

St Luke's RC Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dundee City 
  

St Matthew's RC Primary 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dundee City 
  

Linlathen High School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Dundee City 
  

Whitfield High School 
  

Secondary 
  

Local Authority 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

Crookedholm Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

Grougar Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

St Paul's Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

St Thomas' Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

St Clare's Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

Galson Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Laurel Bank 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Laurel Bank 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



Glasgow City 
  

The Park School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Glasgow City 
  

The Park School 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Abbotsford Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Cleddans Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Our Lady & St Margaret's Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

St Constantine's Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Glasgow City 
  

Shakespeare Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Drumbeg Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Inchmore Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Kirkton Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Highland 
  

Knockbain Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Moray 
  

Hamilton Drive School 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

Argyle Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

Kyleshill Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

Graemsay Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

Lanark Lodge Special Unit 
  

Special 
  

Local Authority 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

Drumley House 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

Drumley House 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

Wellington 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

Wellington 
  

Secondary 
  

Independent 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

Springbank School 
  

Primary 
  

Independent 
  



Stirling 
  

Croftamie Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



Stirling 
  

Arnprior Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

Faifley Primary School 
  

Primary 
  

Local Authority

Shipbuilding

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the new contract for the BAE SYSTEMS Govan yard will affect the skills base and jobs at the Scotstoun shipyard.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The new Alternative Landing Ship Logistics contract was signed on 19 November by BAE SYSTEMS Marine for the Clyde yards. Whilst a substantial part of the work will be carried out at Govan, the increasingly integrated nature of the company’s two Clyde yards and the increased flexibility and mobility of its workers will have positive benefit for workers at both Scotstoun and Govan. In addition, whilst all steel production will be carried out at Govan, all manufacturing work will be carried out at the manufacturing centre of Excellence at Scotstoun.

  In total, the contract will sustain up to 600 jobs on the Clyde and a further 200 among outside contractors when construction is at its peak. It will provide continuity in workload until construction of the Type 45 Destroyers gets under way. Taken together with the latter, it will provide a secure base of work for the Clydeside yards for some time to come.

Social Services

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in total will be employed by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Scottish Social Services Council.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for the two bodies. However, it is expected that approximately 500 people will be employed by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and approximately 36 by the Scottish Social Services Council. In addition, approximately 15 staff are likely to be employed to carry out work for both bodies.

Social Services

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what job vacancies have been advertised at the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Scottish Social Services Council and where any such vacancies were advertised.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Executive posts for both the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Scottish Social Services Council were advertised in The Guardian , The Herald , The Scotsman , the  Dundee Courier and the Aberdeen Press and Journa l.

  Other posts and the processes for filling them are matters for the two bodies themselves.

Social Services

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people currently employed by local authority social work departments will be transferred to (a) the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and (b) the Scottish Social Services Council.

Malcolm Chisholm: Two hundred and twenty-six such staff have indicated an initial preference to transfer to the Commission.

  Staff transferring to the Scottish Social Services Council were previously employed by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. No local authority staff will be transferring to the Scottish Social Services Council.

Social Services

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people will be employed by (a) the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and (b) the Scottish Social Services Council in each of the salary ranges (i) under £10,000, (ii) from £10,001 to £15,000, (iii) from £15,001 to £25,000 and (iv) over £25,000 gross per annum.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care will mainly employ staff transferring from local authority and NHS board registration and inspection units. These staff will transfer on existing salary levels.

  The Scottish Social Services Council is employing staff who were previously employed by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. These staff have also transferred on existing salary levels.

  The chief executives of the council and the commission have salaries of over £25,000. The salaries of other new staff are for the bodies themselves.

Social Work

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the definition of "social work supervision" is and how it is assessed and monitored.

Nicol Stephen: Social work supervision is a broad term meaning supervision by a social worker. Its precise definition will depend on the statutory basis of the supervision which may be in respect of an adult or a child. There is a wide range of relevant orders and many of them may have additional specific conditions. The effectiveness of supervision is assessed according to the requirements of the order. The Social Work Services Inspectorate evaluates the effectiveness of services overall.

Teacher Training

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which further or higher education institutions offering teacher training courses include epilepsy awareness and epilepsy first aid training as a part of the curriculum.

Nicol Stephen: The information is not available in the form requested. Each individual training course develops its own particular programme of study in line with the Guidelines for Initial Teacher Education in Scotland . These guidelines require that teachers are prepared to be responsive to the needs of all pupils in respect of health and general well-being. The guidelines are not prescriptive and do not set out a specific range of medical conditions.

Teachers

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment that implementation of any changes to teachers’ pay scales, as they apply to probationary and recently qualified staff, will be delayed so as not to affect the current intake of students and any applying this year for the 2002 intake.

Nicol Stephen: The proposal to have all probationer teachers paid on the probationer point for the period of their training year has come from a working group of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), so this is not solely a decision for the Scottish Executive, or for me as the Education Minister. The SNCT is not a free-standing organisation, but is a forum through which the Scottish Executive, COSLA and the teacher organisations reach collaborative decisions. No decisions will be taken until the full SNCT meets.

  I am convinced that the improvements we are implementing through the agreement are of significant benefit to probationer teachers and the profession, both now and in the long-term. However, I am aware of the concerns raised by those mature students studying now, and in particular that they have budgeted for their training under certain expectations and assumptions. With our partners in COSLA and the teacher organisations, we will give the issues they have raised our full consideration at the next meeting of the SNCT.

Teachers

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average age is of (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers, broken down by subject area in the case of secondary teachers.

Nicol Stephen: The information available on the average age of (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers can be obtained from Table 5 and Table 11 of the statistical bulletin Teachers in Scotland: September 1998 , published in March 2000, which is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 16320).

Vaccination

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what implications the decision of the General Medical Council’s Preliminary Proceedings Committee in respect of the complaint against Dr Peter John Mansfield regarding the practice of giving children single vaccinations instead of the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccination will have for the administering of such vaccines in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: None. The decision of the General Medical Council relates to an individual health professional. It has no substantive bearing on immunisation policy.

  Immunisation policy is informed by expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Their advice remains that MMR is the safest and most effective way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella. Single vaccines are not recommended, in place of MMR, as there is no evidence of benefit and a clear risk of harm.

Waste Management

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it issues to local authorities on how public consultation should be structured regarding planning applications for waste management facilities, materials recycling facilities and energy from waste plants.

Iain Gray: There are no separate statutory requirements for public consultation on planning applications for such proposals. The Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1992 sets out the basic statutory requirements for consultation on planning applications. Additional consultation may be required where, for example, environmental impact assessment is involved or development is contrary to the development plan.

  In November, we published a consultation paper Getting involved in Planning which contains a number of proposals aimed at encouraging more effective public participation in the planning system. Responses to the consultation, which runs until the end of March 2002, will be published in due course.

Young People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to support activity programmes for younger people who are looked after or accommodated by local authorities.

Nicol Stephen: This is a matter for local authorities who have a duty under the Children (Scotland) Act to safeguard and promote the welfare of every child looked after by them.

  Community Learning Strategy Partnerships are required to analyse the needs of local communities in planning provision of community based education facilities. This analysis of local needs should include consideration of the requirements and appropriate provision of community-based resources for all young people.

Young People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments have been made of the benefits, including development of self-esteem and confidence, of activity programmes and residential breaks for younger people who are looked after or accommodated by local authorities.

Nicol Stephen: As part of good management practice, it is for local authorities to evaluate the outcomes for children who use their services or services purchased by the local authority on their behalf.

Young People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support befriending programmes assisting younger people who are looked after or accommodated by local authorities.

Nicol Stephen: We are promoting the development of advocacy services for children looked after by local authorities through the Children’s Services Development Fund (£13.6 million over three years from 1999-2000) and through grant aid for Who Cares? Scotland (£122,640 in the current financial year). This year, we have also awarded £120,000 grant to Fostering Network to take forward a mentoring project for age 16 to 19-year-old careleavers.